"Go get 'em, Kid." Cole's laughter surrounded her with warmth.
      She climbed off his lap and settled an imaginary holster around her hips. "Right now, this Kid's got kitchen duties. I forgot to put away the ice-cream. It's probably melted all over the counter by now."
      She was half-way to the door when Cole called her back. "Hey, honey. I'll talk to Walt, okay?"
      She nodded. In the kitchen, she found Greg at the large table, spoon raised midway to his mouth. A bowl full of partly melted ice cream sat before him. "I put the rest of it away."
      She ruffled his hair on his way past his chair. "You mean you put what was left away."
      He smiled, a little sheepishly, reminding Joey of the kid he'd been before Tom died. In a rush, her love for him came welling up, overriding her impatience and her intention to talk to him about his behavior.
      A few minutes later, Ellen called to say she'd gotten home safely, and Joey managed to make things right between them. She hung up the phone feeling content that, even if everything wasn't completely settled, it wouldn't be long before all her problems would be over. She went to tell Cole about Ellen's call and found him on the porch with her father. They both sat with their feet up, rocking, eyes on the distant mountains. She hid a grin as she listened to their conversation. Man talk.. The words ebbed and flowed around her in deep masculine tones. Smiling, she backed away without intruding. It was good to see her father and her husband getting along. If only her son could do the same.
      In the following days, absorbed with solidifying her relationship with Cole, busy with the house and Frank's checkups in town, she forgot about soothing things with Greg.
      It wasn't until he walked in with a bloody nose and a bruised eye, already swollen half-shut, that she dropped her wallpaper sample book and took a good look at him. "Greggie! What happened, are you all right?"
      He plopped his knapsack on the table. "Don't call me that."
      "What happened? Who hurt you? Was it someone at school?"
      "It's nothing, Mom. I'll take care of it."
      "What do you mean nothing?" she demanded. "Who did this to you? I'll call the principal right away."
      "Mom, will you for crying out loud shut up about it?" Greg hollered. "It didn't happen at school, all right? It happened right here on this damned ranch you like so much. Are you happy now?"
      "Don't speak to your mother like that, son." Cole came into the kitchen and flicked his Stetson onto the hat rack.
      "Son?" Greg cried in a high, wounded voice. "I'm not your son."
      "Let's see that mouse," Cole said, ignoring Greg's surly manner and Joey's anxious face. "Looks like you got a good one, here. What about the other guy?"
      "He's fine. I didn't even get a chance at him."
      Cole heard the bitterness in his voice. "Sounds like you could use a few pointers. Want me to teach you?"
      "Cole!" Joey gasped. "You're not going to teach him to fight, are you?"
     
      He spared her a no-nonsense look. "A man's got to learn to take care of himself." She threw her hands up in the air. "I don't believe this."
      Cole watched Greg. The boy's face was easy to read. Anger, humiliation at being bettered, hope that he could give back in spades what he'd already had to take, and then finally, his face shuttered as he tuned Cole out.
      Greg turned his back on both of them and left the room.
      Cole let him go. "I thought I could reach him."
      Torn between rushing to help her son or comfort her husband, Joey bit her lip. "You tried."
      "Hell."
      "I'd better go see if he needs any help."
      "Leave him, honey. A man doesn't want his mother to see him hurting."
      "He's not a man, dammit! He's only seventeen."
      Cole stiffened. "How old does he have to be before he starts learning how to be a man? Let him grow up, Joey."
      She took an involuntary step backward. "He's growing. I can't keep in him clothes or shoes."
      "I didn't mean clothes," Cole grunted. "Let him go, honey. You're making it tougher for him by coddling him."
      "I am not coddling him!" she protested. "What kind of mother would I be if I didn't care that he got hurt?" Remembering something she'd heard about the best defense being a good offense, she attacked. "One of the hands hurt Greg. Aren't you going to fire him?"
      "Fire Jim? What on earth for?"
      She stared at the blank look on his face. "Jim did that? The same Jim who-—?"
      "Only one Jim working for me."
      "And you're going to let him get away with beating up on Greg?"
      Cole chuckled. "Beating up? One punch?"
      "You saw it? Why didn't you stop it?"
      "Nothing to stop. One moment Greg was smarting off, the next he was sitting in the dust. He deserved it."
      "You're taking Jim's side in this?" she shrilled.
      Aw, c'mon, honey, don't make this into something it's not. The boys got a little hot under the collar, that's all."
      "Right. And Greg's the one who ends up bloody!"
      "He'll survive. Next time he'll think twice about shooting his mouth off."
      "I don't believe this," Joey flung at him as she hurried after Greg.
      Coming back down the hall after tending to Greg, she spotted Cole sitting on the end of their bed. Surprised that he'd still be in the house when he usually spent most of his days outside, she moved to stand beside him. "Are you all right-—what are you doing with my jewelry?"
      He glanced up at her, the lifted the shimmering gold chain. "How come you never wear this stuff?" He put the chain down, poked at a pair of simple gold earrings and then picked up an aquamarine and diamond ring. He looked back up at her, puzzlement in his eyes.
      "Uh, those are things Tom gave me."
      Cole replaced the ring carefully. "And?"
      "They don't go with my new life." She caught her lower lip between her teeth. That wasn't the whole explanation, but how could she make Cole understand that she'd put those pieces of good jewelry away at the same time she'd retired her matronly wardrobe. It had been her way of standing on her own two feet. "I prefer this kind of jewelry," she said as she make her long earrings jingle.
      He stretched out a hand to touch the bright green pea pods. "I can't afford to give you jewelry like he did."
      She caught his hand in hers. "I don't want it."
      Instead of being reassured, his features tightened. He pulled his hand away and stood. Moving to the door, his scuffed boots ringing against the hardwood floor, he stopped and looked back at her. "I don't understand you, Joey."
      She whispered to his retreating back, "Sometimes I don't understand you, either, Cole. But it doesn't stop me from loving you."
      At supper, with tension the main course, Cole let Greg have it. "Look, kid, on a ranch, each man pulls his own weight. You're new and have a lot to learn. That makes you the rookie here. Listen and learn, son, it'll make your life a lot easier."
      "I'm not your son!" Greg retorted. "There's nothing on this pile of dirt ranch that I want to learn about!"
      Cole's lips thinned. "Like I said, you'll have to do your share. You can do it the easy way, or you can do it the hard way. It's up to you."
      "Cole," Joey interjected softly. "Give him time."
      "He can take all the time he needs to learn the job properly, but he will learn. Is that understood, Joey? Greg?"
      Greg responded by pushing his chair back and rushing up to his room. Joey glared at Cole who merely said, "Pass the bread. Please."
      That night for the first time since their marriage, Cole and Joey slept far apart in the big brass bed. Cole reached for her as usual, but Joey stiffened, and without a word, scooted so far to her side of the bed that another inch and she'd be on the floor. Stifling a curse, Cole stayed where he was, and then, with a sigh, rolled over and went to sleep.
      Joey lay there, staring at the scrolled curlicues of the bedstead while she tried to calm her racing pulse. She hadn't been fair to Cole, taking her frustrated anger out on him, but sweet heaven, she was tired of being the bad guy here.
      When Joey went to speak to Greg after dinner, he'd told her he'd never speak to her as long as she lived, and even Poppa had been cool, letting her know without words that he agreed with Cole. Only Marie had seemed to be on her side, but she'd excused herself for bed early, leaving Joey alone with three smoldering males. Men! Who needed them?
      The next morning, Cole was gone by the time she pulled herself out of bed. After showering and getting a good look at her haggard face in the steamy mirror, she deliberately dressed in her most vivid jogging suit in orange and crimson. Putting on a bright, cheerful face, she went downstairs to wait until Cole came in for his mid-morning cup of coffee.
      The phone rang just as he came in the kitchen. Since he was nearest, he picked it up, listened, then handed it to her. "It's the senior high secretary."
      Puzzled, Joey picked up the phone. After a few words, she sat down hard on the nearest chair. "I didn't know he'd been cutting school," she admitted. "He's not there now?"
      She listened again. "I'll talk to him. There'll be no more of this, I promise." Ashen faced, she replaced the receiver. "Greg's been cutting school again. This is the third day this week."
      "Damn. He's done this before?"
      Joey nodded. "At home, he'd go the beach. Here, I don't know."
      Cole poured his coffee and snared a sweet roll. "Do you want me to go look for him? I think I remember all the places a boy his age would go."
      "No," Joey said after a long pause. She was tempted to jump on a horse and gallop madly off to find Greg, but if Cole was right, she needed to let Greg face the consequences of his own actions. She'd had time to think over Cole's words at dinner, and much as she wished he'd been less hard-nosed about it, he was right. Greg did need to learn to carry his share of the load around here. It was time for him to grow up. Starting now. "Let's wait until he comes home. Then we can settle this."
      With a nod, Cole jammed his Stetson on his head and went out to run his ranch. Joey paced the floor, hugging her waist with both arms as though she was cold, waiting for the sound of Greg's outsized sneakers on the porch, where Frank waited, his eyes on the far-off hills. Marie at first tried to be cheerful, but by late afternoon, she gave that up and sat with Frank. Even the good news that he'd been cleared to return home didn't lighten their mood.
      Joey, passing by the porch, saw her parents sitting quietly, then noticed Betty on the phone dialing number after number. She heard Greg's name, then moved closer.
      Betty looked up. "Duke at the Two bit said he saw some kid in wild outer space clothes hanging around the gas station—"
      "He must mean Greg!"
      "But," Betty continued. "It was two or three days ago."
      Joey's shoulder slumped.
      "I'll keep trying," Betty offered.
      "Thanks," Joey managed. "I appreciate it."
      etty nodded and dialed another number.
      Greg didn't come home. Dinner came and went. Cole had the hands out, scouring all the places he'd mentioned, but one by one they came back, faces telling without words that they hadn't found a trace of Greg.
      Walt stepped forward. "One of the trucks is gone, boss. Want me to hit the road?"
      "No good. The kid's had too long a head start. But at least we can hope he's headed for California. Which truck did he take?"
      Nodding at the older man's answer, Cole came back inside, to find Joey at the kitchen table, a cooling cup of tea in front of her. He tossed his Stetson on the rack and hunkered down beside her. "I'm sorry, honey. I was too hard on him."
      She half turned and put her hand on his shoulder, feeling the tense muscles bunch under her fingers. "It's not your fault, Cole. Greg's the one who's wrong here. You did what you thought was best."
      He swallowed and rested his head against her breast. "I'll find him for you, honey. I swear."
      "I know you will. Don't blame yourself. I'm just as much to blame..."
      "Ah, Joey, don't cry," he soothed.
      Marie finally got Frank to bed, swearing she'd wake him if there was any news, but Joey continued to sit, back ramrod straight, in a chair nearest the telephone.
      When it rang, the shrill noise made her jump. Cole beat her to the phone and then passed it to her. "It's Ellen."
      "Oh, Ellen, I can't talk now, I've got to keep the line open in case Greg-—"
      "Mom, don't hang up! It's about Greg." Ellen cut across her explanations. "He called me."
      "He did? Is he all right? Where is he?"
      "One question at a time, Mom. He's fine. He called from Elko."
      "Nevada? What's he doing there?"
      "Mom, if you'd just let me explain."
     
      "Sorry, Ellen. Go on." "
      He's on his way home, Mom. He's driving a ranch truck."
      "He what?" Joey screeched.
      "Mom, calm down. He's all right. He's got your credit card for gas and stuff."
      Joey sat before she fell. "Sweet heavens. I didn't even notice. I didn't check my purse. You said he's all right?"
      "He's fine, Mom. Mad at the world, but he's okay. I think he'll be here sometime tomorrow. Are you going to let him stay?"
      "I don't know," she murmured, all energy drained. She handed the phone to Cole.
      "Hello, Ellen. You want to repeat all that?" He listened for several minutes, then said, "Figured as much. Let him stay. Here's what we're going to do. Frank's okay to return home, so we'll drive the rig down. Easy stages. It'll take us several days."
      "Days?" Joey echoed. "I want to see Greg right now!"
      "Several days," Cole repeated, his eyes steady on Joey. "That'll give us all time to calm down." He spoke into the mouthpiece. "You think you can keep an eye on him til we get there?"
      Cole smiled at Ellen's response. "That's right. We'll call you from the road, find out how you're doing."
      As soon as he hung up, Joey blurted, "I don't want to wait that long. I'll fly home tomorrow."
      "No."
      "No?" she echoed, her voice rising. "There you go again, making decisions for me!"
      "Someone's got to keep their head on straight, that's all."
      Joey slammed her hand down on the counter. "O-oh, so now--"
      "Think about it, Joey," he interrupted. "We can make sure your parents get home all right and figure out what to do with Greg on the way. If you fly off half-cocked, you'll just make things worse."
      She opened her mouth to let him have it, then stopped. "How come you know so much about everything?"
      He grinned at her grumble. "Hey, I was a boy once. Give him a little slack here. You won't regret it."
      "Who says?"
      "I do. C'mon honey, loosen up. He's okay. He thought ahead enough to call Ellen. He knew she'd let you know he's all right so you won't worry."
      "I guess," she reluctantly agreed. H
      He took her into his arms. "He'll be okay, honey. He's driving a reliable truck. He'll have some time to calm down before we get there."
      Joey felt her muscles relax as she sagged against Cole. "You don't have to do this, you know."
      "I want to."
      "Can you take the time away from the ranch?"
      "Sure. Sam's in charge. With Betty keeping the paperwork straight, there shouldn't be any problems."
      Nestling into his embrace, she lifted her face to study his. "My family's been nothing but problems since we met."
      "We're all family now."
      "You're a good man, Cole."
      He bent to kiss her forehead, then her nose and her cheeks. Inevitably, their lips met. What started as tender reassurances developed quickly into an expression of white hot need. Joey opened to him, accepting his tongue as though she were starved. When he withdrew, she clasped her hands around his neck and brought him back down to her. "Love me, Cole, love me."
      He lifted her as though she weighed nothing at all and took the stairs two at a time. Damn, she needed him and he was going to make sure she got what she needed.

      In the morning, Cole conferred with Sam, had the hands ready the RV and supervised it all by the time Joey stumbled downstairs.
      Marie was already in the kitchen, dressed in comfortable slacks and a sweater, having breakfast with Frank. "Goodness. When Cole sets his mind to something, he really moves, doesn't he?"
      Her mind still fuzzy, her body sated with the lovemaking she and Cole had just shared, Joey fixed herself a cup of tea before answering. "Did he tell you about Greg?"
      "Ought to tan that boy's hide, running off and scaring us like that," Frank muttered.
      Joey nodded. "I should have seen it coming. He said something about his buddies in Santa Cruz putting him up. Darn. Why are we just sitting here?"
      Marie patted her hand. "We'll be on our way soon as you're dressed, dear."
      Joey glanced down at her robe. "Oh." Taking her tea with her, she quickly showered, dressed and threw some things for Cole and her into a suitcase and lugged it downstairs. She went outside and poked her nose into the RV. "Hey, anyone here?"
      Cole lifted his head from the engine. "Ready? We'll stop for gas in town-—"
     
      "Groceries, too," Joey reminded him. "Snacks only. I checked with Frank's doctor. He'll be okay during the day so long as we stop early enough to give him a good night's sleep. I figure we'll stay in a motel-—"
      "Why not in here?"
      Cole gave the sleeper sofa a telling glance. "I am not sleeping on that."
      "But, Cole-—"
      "But nothing. You want to make love twenty feet away from your folks?"
      She felt her cheeks burn. "We don't have to..."
      His lip quirked. "Oh?"
     
      "We could exercise a little restraint." "Honey, one night sleeping without holding you was one night too many."
      When he looked at her like that, she could deny him nothing. She thrust the suitcase at him. "Here. I'll go tell Poppa we're ready."
* * *
      Mid-afternoon, three days later, Cole parked the big RV in Joey's driveway, next to the ranch pickup. Turning the ignition off, he stretched and turned to Joey. "You didn't tell me you had such a big house." He looked out across the large, immaculately landscaped front yard overlooking the Pacific. "View's nice, too."
      She was already half out the door, scenery unimportant in her hurry to talk to Greg. Ellen wouldn't be here, and chances were Greg wasn't either, not if the waves were any good today, but she just had to see for herself. Unlocking the door, she ran inside, checking rooms as she went, calling for Greg. She met her parents and Cole back in the living room. "He's not here."
      Marie hugged her dogs to her chest. "Well, he'll have to come back sooner or later. Maybe while you're waiting, you could drive us home?"
      Joey seemed torn, glancing at the clock and then at the RV outside. One look at her father's pale face decided her. "I'll take the car. Cole can follow in the RV, okay?"
      It seemed to take forever to drive to her parents home, help them get settled and then go back to her house. Joey fretted every minute, but at last, she and Cole sat down in her living room to wait for Greg. Joey jumped up, pacing restlessly. She picked up a pillow from the couch, fluffed it and replaced it. Next, she placed the ornate silver frame containing a photograph of Ellen and Greg more to her liking.
      Cole got up and took her hand in his. "Hey, why don't you show me around? Use some of that energy?"
      She threw him a suspicious look, then took a deep breath. "I guess I am a little hyper."
      He grinned.
      "Okay. This is the living room."
      "I can see that," Cole said. He also saw the bright colorful upholstery, the way the windows brought the sun and the sea right into the room, and realized now why Joey had taken one look at his big, dark house and started redecorating. Her house hummed with her personality. He followed her from room to room, learning more about her with each step, until at last she led him to her bedroom. He walked in, scanning each feature, from the king sized bed, the long low twin dressers, the loveseat in front of a fireplace. He went to stand at the sliding glass doors leading to a private deck. Nestled among ferns and other screening plants, a large Jacuzzi tub beckoned. He stiffened at the thought of Joey there with another man, even if he was her first husband. "Nice place."
      Joey nodded absently.
      Cole's lips thinned as he caught sight of male clothing through the half-opened closet door. Damn. He had no right to feel sucker punched just because she hadn't disposed of Tom's clothing, but it didn't help. Keeping his walk casual, he moved close enough to nudge the door shut. His gesture didn't change anything. Now that he looked, he saw traces of Tom Fleming everywhere. He could tell which side of the bed he'd favored by the things on the night table, by the slippers on the floor. He noticed Joey frowning at him. He tried to keep his face expressionless as he asked, "What is it?"
      "Something wrong?"
      If he suggested that it was time to let Tom go, sure as hell he'd start another argument. Joey had enough on her hands now. He'd keep his mouth shut, even if he had to weld it tight, until the time was right. "Do you want to go look for Greg?"
      She brightened, then shook her head. "I don't know where he'd be. He could be at any of the beaches. There are so many, even if he's not surfing."
      He glanced at the seascape outside her window. Though they were far enough away not to hear the sound of the surf, the water still beckoned. No wonder Greg couldn't resist. "What do you want to do, then?"
      "Wait, I guess. What else can we do?"

Ready for the next chapter? Chapter Twenty-four -- posted August 1, 1998

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Last updated:May 30, 1998